Breaktrhru [i.e breakthru] Restoration Community Church (Wellington): konteks, identiteit en uitdagings
Date
2009-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In ‘n sosio-ekonomies minder bevoorregte bruin gemeenskap is misdaad, alkohol- en dwelmmisbruik, werkloosheid, en armoede alledaagse verskynsels. Hoe begelei ‘n mens ‘n gemeente om ‘n missionale gemeente binne so ‘n gemeenskap te word? Kan ‘n gemeente wie se lidmate in die greep van armoede en verwante verskynsels vasgevang is, omvorm word tot ‘n gemeente wat nie net bakhand staan om
te ontvang nie? Kan so ‘n gemeente se lidmate bemagtig word om self betrokke te word by hul uitdagings in die gemeenskap? Wellington is ‘n besonderse dorp met besonderse mense en ‘n unieke, historiesekarakter en geskiedenis wat wêreldwyd bekend is op kulturele, musikale, opvoedkundige, landbou- en Christelike gebied. Die inwoners van die dorp is oorwegend bruin Afrikaanssprekendes met baie blanke en swart inwoners - oorwegend Christene met ‘n baie klein Moslem komponent. Wellington is wel ‘n klein dorpie, maar die wyse waarop globale tendense soos globalisasie, godsdiens, taal, bendes, misdaad, alkohol- en dwelmmisbruik, armoede, en werkloosheid ‘n rol speel, is onrusbarend.
Oral in dié gemeenskappe is probleme en uitdagings en ons as die kerk mag nie langer stilbly oor dinge wat in die gemeenskap gebeur nie. Met die uitdagings en behoeftes wat in ons konteks beskryf word en die feit dat die meeste probleme sosiaal-maatskaplik en sosio-ekonomies is, staan die kerk sentraal as ‘n agent van
verandering. Die Breakthru Restoration Community Church (BRCC) is ‘n geordende gemeente wat, te midde van ‘n see vol probleme, ‘n eiland van hoop is. As ‘n gemeente wat omgee deur God se liefde in aksie te wees binne ‘n sosio-ekonomies, onderontwikkelde gemeenskap, is ons die sout en die lig van die wêreld. Breakthru het binne ‘n bestek van vyf jaar die landskap van Wellington en omgewing onherroeplik verander deurdat ons Bybels, aanpasbaar, ekumenies, relevant en effektief is. Ons leuse is, every member a minister, wat al ‘n refrein in ons gemeente geword het. Ons streef daarna om die “sout” en die “lig” te wees en ons doen dit deur ons grootste bate, ons lidmate, te bemagtig en te mobiliseer om eienaarskap van die gemeente se visie te neem. As kerk spreek ons die geestelike, maatskaplike en sosio-ekonomiese probleme holisties aan deur die Woord van God sowel as in vennootskap met ander organisasies. Ons wil as draers van hoop in ons gemeenskap leef. ‘n Beskrywende studie van die gemeente is gedoen deur ‘n prakties-teologiese metodiek te gebruik. Dit word in hoofstuk een as die inleiding beskryf. In hoofstuk twee word ‘n kontekstuele analise van die gemeenskap gedoen. Hoofstuk drie verskaf ‘n profiel van BRCC en stippel die werksaamhede, visie, missie en doelwitte van die gemeente uit. Hoofstuk vier fokus op die identiteit en kultuur van die gemeente. In hoofstuk vyf het die navorser ‘n strategie vir ‘n missionale identiteit vir die Breakthru Restoration Community Church uitgestippel.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In a socio-economic disadvantaged coloured community where poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, unemployment and crime are everyday realities, how do you guide a congregation to be a missional congregation amidst these challenges? Can a congregation, whose members are caught in the grip of poverty and related challenges, as described above, be transformed into a missional congregation, with members who are actively involved in tackling these issues? Wellington is a unique town with unique people and a unique historical character and history, which is widely known. The population comprises predominantly Afrikaans speaking coloured people together with many white and African people who are predominantly Christian, with a small Muslim population. Wellington is a small town but the way that global tendencies, such as globalization, religion, language, gangs, crime, alcohol and drug abuse, unemployment, and poverty have plagued our community is a matter of concern. Every community has its own challenges and problems, but the church can no longer keep silent about issues in this community. The church should break its silence on issues. Among the challenges and needs that are described in the context, and the fact that most of these challenges are social and socio-economic by nature, the church stands central as an agent of change. The Breakthru Restoration Community Church (BRCC) is an ordained congregation that, amidst a sea of challenges, is prominent as an island of hope. As a congregation that cares by demonstrating God’s love by means of various activities in this sosio-economically disadvantaged community, we are indeed the salt and light of the world. Within a space of five years, Breakthru has changed the landscape of Wellington completely by means of our vision for this community. Our vision includes: being Biblical, ecumenical, relevant and effective. Our slogan is: every member a minister, which means motivating the members of the church to be actively involve in the missio Dei. We do this by empowering and mobilizing our greatest asset, i.e. our members, to take ownership of the congregation’s vision. Furthermore, we believe in the concept: “Together we can do more.” As a church, we addresses the spiritual, social and socio-economic challenges holistically through the Word of God and also by partnering with other organizations. Our vision is to live as bearers of hope in our community. The descriptive study of the congregation was done by using a practicaltheological methodology, which chapter one, as the introduction, describes. Chapter two contains a contextual analysis of the community. Chapter three provides a profile of the BRCC that focuses on our vision, mission, functions and goals. Chapter four emphasizes the identity and culture of the congregation and in chapter five the researcher has mapped out a strategy for a missional identity for the Breakthru Restoration Community Church.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In a socio-economic disadvantaged coloured community where poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, unemployment and crime are everyday realities, how do you guide a congregation to be a missional congregation amidst these challenges? Can a congregation, whose members are caught in the grip of poverty and related challenges, as described above, be transformed into a missional congregation, with members who are actively involved in tackling these issues? Wellington is a unique town with unique people and a unique historical character and history, which is widely known. The population comprises predominantly Afrikaans speaking coloured people together with many white and African people who are predominantly Christian, with a small Muslim population. Wellington is a small town but the way that global tendencies, such as globalization, religion, language, gangs, crime, alcohol and drug abuse, unemployment, and poverty have plagued our community is a matter of concern. Every community has its own challenges and problems, but the church can no longer keep silent about issues in this community. The church should break its silence on issues. Among the challenges and needs that are described in the context, and the fact that most of these challenges are social and socio-economic by nature, the church stands central as an agent of change. The Breakthru Restoration Community Church (BRCC) is an ordained congregation that, amidst a sea of challenges, is prominent as an island of hope. As a congregation that cares by demonstrating God’s love by means of various activities in this sosio-economically disadvantaged community, we are indeed the salt and light of the world. Within a space of five years, Breakthru has changed the landscape of Wellington completely by means of our vision for this community. Our vision includes: being Biblical, ecumenical, relevant and effective. Our slogan is: every member a minister, which means motivating the members of the church to be actively involve in the missio Dei. We do this by empowering and mobilizing our greatest asset, i.e. our members, to take ownership of the congregation’s vision. Furthermore, we believe in the concept: “Together we can do more.” As a church, we addresses the spiritual, social and socio-economic challenges holistically through the Word of God and also by partnering with other organizations. Our vision is to live as bearers of hope in our community. The descriptive study of the congregation was done by using a practicaltheological methodology, which chapter one, as the introduction, describes. Chapter two contains a contextual analysis of the community. Chapter three provides a profile of the BRCC that focuses on our vision, mission, functions and goals. Chapter four emphasizes the identity and culture of the congregation and in chapter five the researcher has mapped out a strategy for a missional identity for the Breakthru Restoration Community Church.
Description
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2009.
Keywords
Breakthru Restoration Community Church, Dissertations -- Practical theology and missiology, Theses -- Practical theology and missiology, Parishes -- South Africa -- Wellington, Pastoral theology -- South Africa -- Wellington, Church growth -- South Africa -- Wellington, Church growth -- Case studies